Chapter 1.17 #3
“Hush…Robert, do not talk…I am afraid my head will explode if I hear any noise.”
He took his place opposite his wife, asked for coffee, and gulped it all desperately under Lady Matlock’s reproachful gaze.
“Am I to understand you were too fond of your brandy last night, husband? By the time I went to see you in the library, I was told you were escorted to your rooms and had retired.”
He only nodded and asked for another cup of coffee.
“Yes, I was trying to calm myself after my quarrel with that boy. I lost my temper completely with him.”
“Yes you did; I grant you that.”
“But how could one keep one’s demeanour upon hearing such news? I do not want to imagine my sister Catherine’s reaction when this report reaches her ears.”
“Well, husband, I dare say she will react no differently than you. You both are under the impression that raising your voice and offending people are the strongest weapons in a battle. And you both should have learned by now how wrong you are, for neither of you has ever won a battle against me.”
She was jesting, looking at her husband in a flirtatious way, her eyebrow raised challengingly, and the earl hid a smile at the corner of his mouth with obvious affection and admiration
“You are right, wife, but then again I do not remember anyone winning a battle against you.”
“True,” she answered with no modesty, and all three smiled while enjoying their meal.
“So, tell me, my dear wife, did you also win the battle with Darcy? How were things settled?” asked the earl after a few more minutes had lapsed and he had yet another cup of coffee.
“Husband, I entered into no battle with my nephew. We did talk with admirable calmness for almost two hours, and I discovered many astonishing things. I must say, I have rarely seen Darcy so well humoured and open in his manner. The lady seems to have a good influence on him. I can only hope she is at least half as accomplished as he described her to be. I invited them to have tea with me in the coming days so I can make my own judgment based on close observation.”
The earl’s face turned red at his wife’s words. “Invited her to have tea with you? Ellen, have you also lost your mind? I sent you to bring him to his senses, and you said you would make him reconsider this ridiculous engagement—not share stories and schedule social calls.”
She was stunned, turning white at his offensive speech in the company of their son; doubtless, the servants who served at table also heard him.
“Lord Matlock, you did not send me to do anything. I willingly offered to talk to our nephew, and I certainly did not say anything about convincing Darcy in any aspect of his decision.”
Her voice was as low as possible, but her tone was steely. However, his anger, lack of concentration caused by a poor night’s sleep, and a terrific headache caused the earl to react improperly, and he continued as he began.
“Well, apparently I was wrong in trusting your judgment and good sense in this matter. You are of no help to me; you have only worsened the situation. From now on, I forbid you to interfere, and I absolutely forbid you to invite that country girl here.”
If a look could burn, Lord Matlock would certainly have been scorched in the next instant.
The colonel felt the tension and cast a quick, worried glance at his mother in time to see her rise from her seat and move slowly towards her husband, stopping only when she was close enough to speak to him almost in a whisper but still audible to their son.
“Lord Matlock, many times in my life I have questioned my wisdom in accepting you as my husband, but only at this moment am I strongly convinced that it was a great mistake and I should have chosen more carefully. Do not presume that you can forbid me anything as no one has done so since I was eight years old. And if you are not willing to accept my guests and treat them with all due respect, you should consider removing yourself from this house, which I inherited from my excellent father.”
The earl’s eyes opened widely in astonishment as he attempted to comprehend his wife’s statement. She turned majestically and, before leaving, threw her husband a last glance over her shoulder.
“And, Lord Matlock, if you decide to remain in this house, I strongly advise you to change your manner of addressing us and never again raise your voice to such an unacceptable level, or upon my word, I shall call you ‘Lady Catherine’ for the rest of your life.”
Many long moments passed before the earl could understand fully that he was being punished for his behaviour and his language as if he were a boy of five.
He gulped loudly and looked at his son, but the colonel had already finished his breakfast and excused himself, explaining he had urgent business.
Alone in the dining room, the earl still could not apprehend his mistake.
Only much later did he realise that, though his bad temper made him lose his calm many times in his life, for the first time in thirty-four years of marriage, he gravely and purposely had offended his wife.